Brush holder



June E, 194. c. M. ANDERSON BRUSH HOLDER Filed May 25, 1945 Ugo oer Brazen press F/fs INVENTOR QMIJK WH'NESSES:

BY Oh-W1. o-wf Lu ATTORNEYS Patented June 1, 1948 OFFICE BRUSH HOLDER Carl M. Anderson, Greensburg,

Jeannette, Pa a corporation Elliott Company, of Pennsylvania la., assignor to Application May 25, 1945, Serial No. 595,827

4': Claims. (01. -183) This invention relates to brush holders, and more particularly to cylindrical holders in which radially disposed brushes are removably mounted for cleaning the inside of tubes when the holders are rotated.

In the cleaning of deposits from the inside of tubes in boilers, stills and the like, it is common practice to pass a rotating brush unit through the tube. The brush unit generally consists of a cylindrical holder from the periphery of which a plurality of circumferentially spaced brushes project radially. The holder is driven by a motor connected to one end of it. As the brushes have relatively short lives, the holder is made in such a way that worn brushes can be removed and new brushes substituted for them; In the past these brush holders have been expensive to make, usually requiring considerable milling, slotting or broaching.

It is among the objects of this invention to 'provide a holder for tube-cleaning brushes and the like which is oi simple and inexpensive construction, which is strong and durable, which is easy to make, and which is dependable in operation.

In accordance with this invention a group of circumferentially spaced parallel spacing members have their opposite ends rigidly connected to axially spaced supporting members. Each of the spacing members is in the form of a channel formed from a metal strip bent transversely into substantially V-shape with the apex pointing toward the axis of the holder. The sides of pairs of these members that are adjacent each other form brush-receiving radial slots between the spacing members having substantially parallel side walls. In its most satisfactory form the supporting members are rigidly mounted on a center pin that connects them. One end of this pin is formed for connection to a motor by which the holder can be rotated. The supporting members preferably are provided with opposed circumferentially spaced V-shape notches in which the ends of the spacing members are mounted. These notches may be spaced from the pin to provide an open area around it between the pin and the spacing members. Means is rigidly mounted on one end of the pin for overlying the adjacent ends of the brush slots in order to aid in assembling the unit and to help hold brushes in the slots. Similar means is slidably mounted on the opposite end oi the pin where it normally overlies that end of the slots to complete the retention of the brushes in the holder. In making this holder the various parts are assembled and pressed. together with copper brazing material applied to them, and then the holder is placed in a furnace where it is brazed and heat treated;

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of my holder showing only one of the brushes in place; Fig. 2 is an end view of a complete assembly partly broken away to show one of the brushes in section; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the holder alone, taken on the line IlIIII of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the holder, taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, one end of a center pin lis enlarged and provided with a short thread 2 for connecting it to a flexible shaft driven by a suitable motor (not shown). The opposite end of the pin is reduced in diameter for a short distance in order to form a shoulder 3. The pin is inserted in a central-opening through a circular disc Al with which it has a press fit. This disc engages the inner end of the large threaded end of the pin. A circular disc-like supporting member 6 is mounted on the pin in the same manner in engagement with the inner surface of disc 4. This member is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced all) V-shape notches l pointing inwardly from its periphery with their inner ends spaced from the pin. A similar disc 8 and notched supporting member 9 are mounted on the reduced opposite end of the pin with the supporting member engaging shoulder 3. The notches l in the two parallel supporting members are placed opposite each cther.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced spacing members it have their opposite ends mounted in the notches in the supporting members 6 and 9, whereby radial slots are formed between the spacing members. These spacing members are formed from thin metal strips which have been stamped to bend them transversely into channels that are. V-shape in cross'section with their ends fitting snugly in the V-shape notches in the supporting members, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The channels not only are rigid, but their shape in relation to their number is such that they form substantially parallel side walls for the slots between them. These slots are provided for the purpose of receiving and retaining removable brushes that project therefrom. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each brush preferaoly consists of a compact bundle of metal bristles E2 the inner ends of which are welded in a surto permanently unite all of press fitted together.

' The space rounding clamp 13 that has projecting ends of reduced thickness at the opposite ends of the brush. The clamp is loosely mounted in one of the slots in the brush holder.

To hold the brushes in theslots, retaining caps are mounted on the opposite ends of the pin projecting from discs 4 and 8. Thus, a cap I! is rigidly mounted on the reduced and of the pin and is provided with an annular flange that extends inwardly to encircle the adjoining disc 8 and supporting member 8 and to overlie the adjacent ends of the radial slots and the projecting ends of the brush clamps therein, as indicated in Fig. 1. If desired, disc 8 and cap ll can be made in one piece by making the body of the cap thick enough to extend inwardly to supporting member 9. At the opposite end of the holder there is a similar cap which is removable so that worn brushes can be removed from the holder and new ones put in their place. This cap or cup I8 is loosely mounted on the large end of thecenter pin and is provided with an annular flange that encircles the adjacent disc 4 and supporting member 8 and overlies the ends of the radial slots and the ends of the brush clamps therein. This cup can be held in place by the flexible drive shaft to which the threaded end of the pin is connected in use. When the cup is backed away from the brushes or removed from the center pin, the brushes can be pulled out of the holder slots.

In making this brush holder its various components, with the exception of the removable cup II, are assembled into a self-supporting unit by means of the tight or press fits that they have with one another. During the assembling operation the center pin serves as a convenient sup- I port on which all of the other elements are mounted. At the same time copper brazing material is applied to some of the elements. This material preferably is in the form of extremely thin pieces of copper one of which is placed between each disc and its adjoining notched supporting member. The holder, minus'cup ll, then is placed in a furnace where its temperature is raised to the point where the copper brazing material melts and diffuses throughout the holder its parts. This brazing takes place even though the holder parts are The unit then is removed from the furnace and quenched to heat treat it. Silver brazing is not satisfactory because silver will not flow into a press fit, and its melting point is too low for the heat treatment of the holder that goes on at the same time as the brazing. By initially assembling the elements of the holder by press fits, there is no necessity for providing additional clamping means to hold them together until they are brazed. The pressure of the flange of cap it against channels I i at a point inwardly of notched member I tends to press the opposite end of the channels inwardly toward the center pin. This holds them .tightly in the notches of supporting member 0 during assembly and until they are brazed. By combining the heat treating and brazing operations, the cost of making this holder is reduced still further.

The V -shape spacers are inexpensive because they are thin and easy to make. and yet they are very strong. They are supported at both ends by the notched supporting members which in turn are rigidly mounted on the connecting center pin, so the entire unit is very strong and rigid. inside the holder around the center pin keeps dirt from being packed in the inner ends of the radial slots where it would interfere with insertion of the brushes. The dirt can shake around inside the holder and escape therefrom through the spaces [1 beside the reduced ends of the brush clamps, as shown in Fi 1.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes. I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention. may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A brush holder comprising a pair of axially spaced supporting members provided with opposed circumferentially spaced V-shape notches pointing toward their axis, and a plurality of spacing members having their ends rigidly mounted in said notches, each of said spacing members being bent into the form of a channel, and pairs of said spacing members that are adjacent each other forming brush-receiving slots betlvlleen them having substantially parallel side we s.

2. A brush holder comprising a center pin, a

pair of. axially spaced supporting members rigidly mounted thereon, said members being provided with opposed circumferentially spaced V-shape notches pointing toward said pin, and a plurality of spacing members having their ends rigidly mounted in said notches, each of said spacing members being bent into the form of a channel, pairs of said spacing members that are adjacent each other forming brush-receiving slots between them having substantially parallel side walls, a cap rigidly mounted on one end of the pin and overlying the adjacent supporting member and the adjacent ends of said slots, and a cup removably mounted on the opposite end of the pin and normally overlying the adjacent supplmtsing member and the adjacent ends of said s o 3. A brush holder comprising a center pin, a pair of axially spaced discs rigidly mounted thereon, supporting members mounted on the pin against the inner faces of said discs, each of said members being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced V-shape notches pointing inwardly from its periphery, the inner ends of said notches being spaced from said pin. a plurality of V-shape channels rigidly mounted at their ends in said notches, said channels forming substantially parallel walls for the brushreceiving slots between them, a cap rigidly mounted on one end of said pin and having an annular flange encircling the adjacent disc and supporting member and the adjacent ends of the channels, the opposite end of the pin projecting from the adjoining disc and being formed for at-, tachment to a source of rotation, and a cap removably disposed on said projecting end of the pin and having an annular flange normally encircling the adjacent disc and supporting member and the adjacent ends of said channels.

' 4. A brush holder comprising a pair of axially spaced supporting members provided with opposed circumferentially spaced notches tapered toward their axis. a plurality of spacing members shaped in cross section to fit in said notches and having their ends rigidly mounted therein. pairs of said spacing members that are adjacent to each other forming brush-receiving slots between them, and means engaging said supporting 5 6 members and projecting inwardly around the ENT ends of said slots to hold brushes in the slots. STATES PAT s emu. mnnsow. Number Name Date 1,018,827 Krupp Feb. 20, 1912 0151014 mans mm 5 1,998,544 Justice Apr. 2, 1935 2,221,858 Wilson Nov. 19, 1940 The inE references are of record in the 2 24 4 m of this patent; .3 61 Ande son ef; al. July 13, 194 

